Ed Dubois

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Edward George Dubois
Born18 April 1952
Surrey, U.K.
Died24 March 2016 (2016-03-25) (aged 63)
EducationWhitgift School
Alma materSouthampton College of Technology
OccupationYacht designer
Known forDubois
SpouseHonor Sharpe
Children4

Edward George Dubois (18 April 1952 – 24 March 2016) was a British yacht designer. He was the founder of Dubois Naval Architects and has been described as one of the foremost designers of sailing yachts.

Early life[edit]

Ed Dubois was born on 18 April 1952 in Surrey, England.[1][2] He was educated at the Whitgift School and he graduated from the Southampton College of Technology, now known as the University of Southampton.[1][2]

Career[edit]

Dubois started his career by working for naval architect Alan Buchanan in Jersey.[1][2] He also worked for Gorey Yacht Services in Jersey,[1] and he wrote for Yachts & Yachting.[2] In 1976, he designed his first yacht for George Skelley, a Jersey-based restaurateur.[1] She was called Borsalino Trois.[1]

Dubois founded his own company, Dubois Naval Architects, in 1977.[1] He designed Police Car for Peter Cantwell, who won the Admiral's Cup in 1979.[1][3] In 1986 he designed his first superyacht, Aquel II.[1] In 1987 he designed Esprit for Neville Crichton, who decided to retain the building team to found the Alloy Yachts shipyard.[2] During his lifetime he designed 47 sailing yachts between 110 ft and 217 ft, including Kokomo, Timoneer II, Silvertip, Tiara, Zulu II and Mondango II.[1]

Dubois was a fellow of the Royal Institute of Naval Architects and the Royal Academy of Engineering.[1] He received an honorary doctorate from the Southampton Solent University in 2004.[3] In 2007, the two-day regatta called the Dubois Cup was named after him.[3]

According to The Daily Telegraph, he was "one of the world’s foremost yacht designers."[1] He was also called "a legend in his own time" by Yachting.[2]

Personal life and death[edit]

With his wife Honor Sharpe, Dubois had two sons and two daughters.[1] He owned a yacht, Firebrand, designed by Olin Stephens.[1]

Dubois died of pancreatic cancer on 24 March 2016, at the age of 63.[1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Ed Dubois, yacht designer – obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 5 April 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Kavin, Kim (25 March 2016). "ED DUBOIS, 1952–2016". Yachting Magazine. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Greaves, Simon (29 March 2016). "Ed Dubois, 1952–2016, leading yacht designer". Financial Times. Retrieved 11 March 2017.

External links[edit]